ONLY a catastrophe would rob Orange Hawks of a Group 10 semi-final berth after Sunday’s win over Cowra - but try-scoring star Todd Barrow has pointed to their final-round clash with Bathurst as their judgement day.

Barrow ran amok in the 40-16 victory over Cowra on Sunday, crossing for a whopping five tries. The powerful centre also kicked four goals for a personal tally of 28 points.

The win places Hawks on 12 competition points in fifth, four clear of both Panthers and the Magpies with three rounds remaining.

Hawks will pick up two points for the bye this weekend, with Panthers having the week off the following Sunday.

Panthers need to upset Mudgee this Sunday and hope Hawks lose to Lithgow Workies the following week to set up a sudden-death final-round fixture at Wade Park.

Given the Bathurst club have recorded only three wins this season, it is unlikely they will be able to beat the Dragons in Mudgee but Barrow is not paying any attention to the form guide.

“We need to win our next two to make the semis and we have to beat Panthers,” Barrow said.

“It will all come down to that last game against Panthers.”

Hawks’ win over Cowra ends a six-game losing streak for the side and Barrow revealed there was an air of confidence around their dressing room before the match.

They had grown tired of losing and the centre thinks they need to improve more if they are to avoid that feeling again.

“We’re sick of losing and you could tell everyone just wanted to win,” Barrow said.

“We were all happy (after winning) but we know we have a lot more to do.

“We’re not near the top three and if we want to go further in the semis we have to improve.”

Barrow’s tally of five tries is his best in a single game and it more than doubles his season haul of four up until Sunday’s match-up.

He paid credit to a dominant display by the Hawks forwards, which gave the Orange side quick play-the-balls and more time in the outside backs.

“It doesn’t happen very often but it was luck more than anything. I was just in the right place at the right time,” Barrow said.

“I didn’t have to do too much, we were getting a bit more time out wide, more than we normally do.”